Taylor 312ce LTD 50th Anniversary

A special edition of one of Taylor’s most popular grand concert guitars.

October 16, 2024

Taylor Guitars continues to celebrate their 50th anniversary, and we’ve been fortunate to be able to check out most of the company’s special edition models commemorating the milestone. Earlier this year, I demoed the 314ce LTD 50th Anniversary grand auditorium, and now Taylor is offering a model with similar limited-edition treatments in its grand concert size: the 312ce LTD 50th Anniversary. In this video, I demo the guitar in the Peghead Nation video studio.

The 300-series guitars are an important pillar in Taylor’s success story. Originally designed as an entry point to the company’s line in the late-1990s, the guitars had a lower price than previous models, making them affordable to a wider group of musicians, which significantly contributed to Taylor’s growth. Today, the 100 and 200 series, as well as several other entry-level models, are the most affordable Taylors, but 300s continue to be the entry point to instruments built in the company’s main El Cajon, California factory.

Like the standard 312ce, the 50th anniversary guitar’s back and sides are built with solid sapele (an African wood that is often compared favorably with mahogany). But for the top, Taylor used its torrefied Sitka spruce top rather than the standard Sitka or mahogany used on regular 300s. The appointments are similar to the standard model in that they include the “gemstone” fingerboard inlays, black-and-white purfling, and a black-and-white multi-ring rosette, but the 50th anniversary model also includes an edge sunburst finish, a “firestripe” pickguard, gold tuners, and a special internal 50th-anniversary label. As you would expect, the guitar has Taylor V-Class bracing and includes the company’s ES2 pickup system.

My very first impression of the 312ce LTD was that there’s nothing “entry-level” about it. Where 300-series guitars used to have satin-finished back and sides and a stripped-down look, this guitar simply has a flavor that distinguishes it from other California-made Taylors. Grand concert models have always been among my own personal favorites, and the 312ce LTD delivers to my expectations. It is incredibly easy to play and delivers a quick fingerstyle response, but it also has a rich tone when strummed that never sounds like a small guitar. Sapele instruments often have the tonal clarity and balance that mahogany is also known for, and these qualities are definite strengths in the 312ce LTD’s overall tonal character. The guitar also sounds a bit more open than some Taylor grand concerts I’ve played over the years, and it may well be that the torrefied top is a factor in this. Plugged into a Fishman Loudbox Mini Charge amp, the guitar’s ES2 electronics provided an excellent amplified representation of its acoustic voice.

The 50th Anniversary version of the 312ce is a great tribute to one of Taylor’s best-selling grand concerts. Though not radically different from a standard model, the guitar’s torrefied top and slight cosmetic upgrades make it worth seeking out for anyone who has been considering a small-body Taylor!